Bomb release system



May L 3945- z. A. M. BURREsoN 2,374,978

BOMB RELEASE SYSTEM 215m JV. urresw@ May l945- z. A. M. BQRRESON2,374,978

BOMB RELEASE SYSTEM Filed Jan. 16, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JINLE Fili/ISEKEY BY` v Patented Mayl, 1945 smears v norm maar: svsrm z lna A. M.Bnrreson, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to P.' B.Mallory Co.,lnc.,'lndianapolis, Ind., acorporationofllelaware Application Jnwy 1s,1942, sex-n1 No. 42eme 3 Claims. (Cl. 89-L5) This invention relates tobomb dropping circuits and mechanisms and more particularly to systemsand mechanisms for dropping bombs from aircraft under control ofelectrical means.

An object of the invention is to improve bomb dropping mechanisms.

Another object is to improve the means whereby bombs may be dropped intimed succession or in a salvo under control of the bombardier.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription and accompaying drawings taken in connection with theappended claims.

The invention comprises the features of construction, combination ofelements, arrangement of parts,5 and methods of manufacture andoperation referred to above or which will be brought out and exemplifiedin the disclosure hereinafter set forth., including the illustration inthe drawings.

Xn the drawings: Figure l is a side view of a bomb droppin mechanismembodying features of the present invention, with the cover removed;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure l; mld- Figure 3 is acircuit diagram for a bomb drop- P1118 system.

The present invention comprises an improvement on the bomb dropper shownand described in Frederick J. Hooven application for Letters Patent,Serial No. 381,218 illed March 1, 1941 (Patent No. 2,332,795, grantedOct. 26, 1943).

According to the present invention additional circuit and mechanicalmeans are added to enable bombs to be dropped either in timed successionunder manual control or under control of an au. tomatic pulsing circuitor dropped in a salvo as desired. This renders the bomb dropping meansapplicable to the bombing of areas where it may be desired to drop aseries of bombs over a considerable area-as well as'of concentratedtargets such as enemy battleships where it is desired to drop a salvo ofseveral bombs on a concentrated target area.

Forthe most part, the circuit and mechanism is similar to that describedin the above mentioned Hoeven application. This part of the mechanismwill be described briefly, after which the further improvements will bedescribed.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein, it iscontemplated that con-- siderable variation may be made in the method ofprocedure and the construction of parts without departing from thespirit of the invention. In

will be identified by specific names. for convenience, but they areintended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as theart will permit.

Referring to the drawings Figures 1 and 2 show a bomb dropping controlmechanism in a box I I having a pair of external levers Il and I!provided with channel-shaped ends Il and lirespectively for engaging thereleasing arm .and arming arm respectively of a bomb shackle carrying abomb. Control box Il contains a system of power multiplying leversassociated with levers i l and I2 and adapted to actuate said leversunder control of an electrically operated solenoid Il as will bedescribed more in detail later. Control box Il also contains a system ofelectric contacts undercontrol of the solenoid and the levers'fortransferring the control of the electric control circuits to asucceeding bomb dropping control box mechanism after a, given mechanismhas operated. The electric contacts also control the circuits fortell-tale lamps located in the bom- `fcardiers compartment to indicatethe condition of'the bomb dropping mechanisms.

The box il may comprise a die casting of light metal with upper andlower sections. A suitable cover may be attached to the box. Bombrelease leverY Il and arming lever Il are secured respectively to shafts3l and It pivoted in pressed-in bearings inthe wall of box Il. Insidethe box a latch lever 39 is secured to shaft 3l and a latch level Il t0shaft Il. .A third'latch arm ll is pivotedonaboltnsoastoswinginandoutoflatching engagement with latch arm Il.

Solenoid Il is mounted horizontally near the top o! the lower boxsection as shown in Figure 1 and has an axially sliding armature Ilnormally held by coil tension spring M in unactuated position. ArmatureIl through the adjustable link controls a latch lever pivoted on a boltIl.

Latch levers 39, Il, Il and l5 comprises. system of power multiplyinglevers whereby the relatively weak pull of solenoid Il may be utilizedto control levers Il and I2 which must be actuated with the strong forcenecessary to perform their required functions. When the device is incocked position as shown in Figure l, arming lever I! is at theright-hand end of its travel and hence its associated 'latch lever Ilwithin box il is raised to a podtion where its latching end Il islatched with the hook 49 on the end of solenoid-controlled lever l5. Aspring Il having one end attached to box Il and -the other end to leverIl urges lever 4l-downward against the restraint of hook 42.

Lever 4l carries an eccentric pin Il and latch arm 4| has attached to ita hairpin loop spring 52 doubled around pin Il. under control of lever4l through the resilient connection furnished by spring l2 and hencewhen lever 4l is latched up as described, arm 4| is drawn to the left.as shown in Figure 1, by pin 5|. This bringslatching edge l2 of lever 4|within the path of travel of latch lever 2l so that when lever 20 israised to the cocked position its latching end 54 rests on latching edgeI2, thereby holding lever 34 in latched position. Strong safety pin typespring ll attached stone end to' box l and at the other end to latchlever 28 latchlng edge 53.

A shock absorbing bumper Il backed up by bumper pad 6| is mounted at thebottom of the box to serve as a bumper for the ends of levers 22 and 40when they are released and driven downward by their associated springs.

According to the present invention a second solenoid 62 is mountedwithin box I! in the upper section of the box. Solenoid l2 has a slidingplunger 62 connected to one end of a lever I4 which is pivoted on a boltl in the partition partially separating the upper and loyer portions ofbox I 0. The lower end B1 of lever 04 extends downward to a positionadjacent to solenoid I5. A coil spring i8 secured at one end to theupper -Y end of lever 24 and at the other to box III, normally pullstheupper end of lever I4 to the right (as shown in Figure 1) and hencedraws plunger 63 to the outward extreme of its travel in solenoid 62.

A sliding bar 89 is mounted to slide on a series of grooved rollers 'I0mounted on the outside of the frame of solenoid i5 whereby bar 69 isper- 'Ihisplacesarnriu The circuit comprises a battery Il for supplyingv the electric energy necessary to operatethe solenoids and suitablecontrol switch means for con-4 ontrol'of contacts 2l, 24 in therespective bomb mitted to slide parallel to plunger 43 of solenoid I5.'I'he left-hand end of plunger 42 and sliding bar 69 are bent towardeach other and ilt over opposite ends of screw 1| on control lever 45vso that both control lever 4l separately.

The right-hand end of bar 69 terminates in a pin 12. A disarming andsafe arm 12 is pivoted on a bolt 14 in box I0. Bolt 14 has attached toit a tongue 15 extending out of box Ill and when the box is mounted inan aircraft this tongue is engaged by control means in the aircraft foreil'ectng release of the bomb in unarmed condition, or for safe holdingof the bomb. Upon rotation of bolt 14 in a. clockwise direction, arm 13prevents the release of lever 29 and hence positively prevents thedropping of a bomb. If arm Y 13 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection, it will effect the unarmed release of the bomb. Bolt 14contains a counter-sunk recess 1l normally registering with pin 12on'the end of sliding bar G9 so that bar 69 may freely slide to releaselatch 49. However, when bolt 14 is rotated to either the "safe orunarmed release position, recess 16 is moved out of registry with pin 12and hence the surface of bolt 14 prevents the travel of bar 89 to theright and thus prevents release of arming lever 40.

Bar 69 carries a pin 11 on its outer face in a position to be engaged bylower end l1 of lever I4 when solenoid $2 is operated. It will thus beevident that the bomb may be released in armedy condition upon operationof either of solenoids I5 or l2.

The circuit arrangement for three of such control boxes lla, IIb and llcis shown in Figure'3.

dropping mechanisms Il to indicate the loaded or unloaded condition ofeach of the mechanisms. thus showing whether or not the bomb carried bythat particular position has been dropped.

Referringagaintoll'igure l. itwillbenoted that contact spring 2l isunder control of bomb release lever Il along with pilot light controlspring 24. Thus when release lever 2l is cocked, contact vspring 2l isheld in engagement with cooperating edge of lever 29 when lever Il iscocked. The

other end of lever 12 holds contact spring il down against contact 2|whenever arm 2l is cocked. Cam 1! is also in a position to engage aprojection 9| on lever 4I whenever lever 4l is rotated in a clockwisedirection by either solenoid Il or solenoid 62. By this arrangement,spring I2 is held in contact with contact 2| not only when lever 29 iscocked but also as long as one of the solenoids remains energized withcurrent from battery Il. It will thus be evident that while contactspring 2l transfers its contact connections the moment release lever 2ldrops, contact I9 does not transfer its connections until release lever29 has dropped and the actuating solenoid has been released. 'I'hefunction of the contacts and bomb dropping mechanism will be clear fromthe following description of their operation.

Should the bombardier wish to drop a single bomb. he will actuate key2|, thereby connecting battery through contacts Il, 2| of box Ila tosolenoid I5, thereby effecting release of levers 4l and 39 thus armingand dropping the bomb associated with mechanism Ilia. Contacts Il, 2|remain closed until key Il is released and the circuit opened afterwhich solenoid II releases its plunger and allows contact spring Il totransfer its connection to contact 2l, thereby connecting the controlcircuit through contacts Il. 2l of mechanism Ilia and contacts Il, 2| ofmechanism lib to solenoid I5 of mechanism IIb, thus preparing mechanismllb for operation upon the next closure of the key Il. It will beapparent that each operation of key II will thereby effect the releaseof only'one bomb. f

Automatic pulsing circuit 22 is connected in parallel with key 2| andperforms the same functions automatically in timed sequence whereby itis possible to effect the timed release of a series of bombs at spacedintervals.

-Shouid the bombardier desire to release a salvo of bombs he willoperate salvo key I2, thereby connecting battery Il to solenoid' 42 ofmechanism ila through closed contacts 2l, 21. This eifects the armedrelease of the bomb associated with mechanism Ila and immediately uponthe dropping oflever '2l which releases the bomb,

contact 2i transfers its connection from contact 21 to contact 26,thereby connecting the battery to contact 25 of mechanism I0b. Sincecontact 25 of mechanism lub is at this time in engage-- ment withcontact 21 this immediately completes a circuit for the operation ofsolenoid 62 in mechanism IDb,v thereby releasing the bomb associatedwith mechanism Illb. The circuit is then transferred to mechanism Icreleasing the bomb associated with that station.

It will be apparent, therefore, that operation of salvo key 83 resultsin the release of all the bombs of the series, one immediatelyafter theother so as to produce a salvo of bombs. It will be further evident,however, that should any bomb release mechanism fail to operate torelease its bomb through some failure of the circuit, none of thesucceeding bombs of the circuit will be released. This prevents one bombfrom falling upon the one below it should the lower bomb fail to bereleased.

Two solenoids, namely l and 62, are used in order that the device mayfunction to maximum perfection under all conditions. However, it isapparent that in some cases the apparatus can be simplified by using asingle solenoid connected to both the solenoid energizing conductors.

While the present invention, as to its objects and advantages, has beendescribed herein as carried out in specic embodiments thereof, it isnotdesired to be limited thereby but it is intended to cover theinvention broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: K

l. In a bomb release system, a series of bomb release mechanisms, eachof said mechanisms comprising a bomb release lever, an energy storagespring for actuating said lever, latching means for holding said leverin cocked position and electromagnetic means for releasing said latchingmeans, and two electric control circuits for said system, the rst ofsaid circuits comprising a source of energy, a control key, and a seriesof transfer switches, all in series, each of said switches having acommon contact and two opposite side contacts cooperating therewith,saidv common contact being biased toward the second of said sidecontacts, one of said transfer switches being mounted in each of saidrelease mechanisms, each said common contact being connected to saidcontrol key through all preceding transfer switches in said series, therst of said side contacts being connected to said electromagnetic meansand the second of said side contacts being connected to the commoncontact of the next succeeding transfer switch in said series, cam meanscontrolled by said release lever engaging the common contact of itsrespective transfer switch to hold said contact in engagement with therst of said side contacts to connect said rst control circuit to theelectromagnetic means of said mechanism when said lever is cocked andreleasing said common conltact to transfer said contact -to said secondside contact and thereby transfer the control circuit connection to thenext succeeding cocked mechanism responsive to release of said lever,the second of said electric control circuits comprising said source ofenergy, a second control key, and a second series of transfer switchesall in series. each of said switches having a common contact and twoopposite side contacts cooperating therewith, said common contact beingbiased toward the second of said side contacts, one of said secondtransfer switches being mounted in each of said release mechanisms, eachsaid common contact being connected to said control key through allpreceding transfer switches in said series, the rst of said sidecontactsbeing connected to said electromagnetic means and the second ofsaid side contacts being connected to the common contact of the nextsucceeding transfer, switch in said series, camuneans controlled by saidrelease lever engaging tlegcgmmmon contact of its respective transferswitch to hold said contact-in engagement with the rst of said sidecontacts to connect said second control circuit to the electromagneticmeans of said mechanism when said lever is cocked and releasing saidcommon contact responsive to release of said lever, said cam means alsobeing controlled by said electromagnetic meansfor holding said commoncontact of its respective transfer switch in engagement with the firstof said 'side contacts during energization thereof, whereby said secondcontrol circuit connection is transferred to the next succeeding cockedmechanism responsive to de-energization of said electromagnetic meansafter its energization to release said lever.

2. In a bomb release system, a series of bomb release mechanisms, atleast one of said mechanisms comprising a release lever, latching meanstherefor and electromagnetic means for unlatching said means, and twocontrol circuits for said .mechanism both connected to a current sourceand each including a control switch, the first of said circuitsincluding a transfer switch in said mechanism, said switch having acommon contact and two opposite side contacts cooperating therewith,said common contact being biased toward' the second of said sidecontacts, said common contact being connected to the first of saidcontrol switches, the first of said side contacts being connected tosaid electromagnetic means and the second of said side contacts beingconnected t0 40 the next succeeding bomb release mechanism of saidseries, cam means controlled by said release lever engaging said commoncontact to hold said contact in engagement with the rst of said sidecontacts to connect said first control circuit to said electromagneticmeans when said lever is cocked'and releasing said common contact totransfer said circuit to said next bomb release mechanism responsive torelease of said lever, the second of said circuits including a secondtransfer switch in said mechanism, said second switch having a commoncontact and two opposite side contacts cooperating therewith, saidcommon contact being ,biased toward the second of said side contacts,said common contact being connected to the second of said controlswitches, the first of said side contacts being connected to saidelectromagnetic means and the second of said side contacts beingconnected to the next succeeding bomb release mechanism of said series,cam means controlled by said release lever engaging said common contactto hold said contact in engagement with the rst of said side contacts toconnect said second control circuit to said electromagnetic means whensaid lever is cocked and releasing said common contact responsive torelease of said lever, said cam means also being controlled by saidelectromagnetic means for holding said common contact of said secondswitch in engagement with the rst of said side contacts duringenergization thereof, whereby said second control circuit is transferredto the next bomb release mechanism responsive to deenergization of saidelectromagnetic means after its energization to release said lever.

3. A bomb release system comprising a series of bomb release mechanisms,each of said mechanisms comprising a release lever, latching meanstherefor and a first and second release electromagnet alternativelyindividually controlling the unlatching of said latching means, a sourceoi' electric current, a rst and second control switch external to saidmechanism, a rst and second control circuit leading through said seriesof mechanisms and connected respectively through said rst and secondcontrol switches to said current source, and a. first and secondtransfer switch in each of said mechanisms, each of said transferswitches having a common contact and two opposite side contactscooperating therewith, said common contact being biased toward thesecond of said side contacts, the common contacts of said first andsecond transfer switches of ea'ch of said mechanisms being connected tosaid first and second control circuits, respectively, through thecorresponding transfer switches of all preceding mechanisms in saidseries, the rsi; of said side contacts of said first and second transferswitches of each of said mechanisms being connected to the first andsecond electromagnets respectively of their individual mechanisms, the

second o1' said side contacts of said rst, and second transfer switchesbeing connected to the respective common contacts of the next succeedingmechanism in said series, cam means controlled by the release lever ofeach mechanism engaging both its associated common contacts to hold saidcontacts in engagement with the first of said side contacts when saidlever is cocked to connect the rst and second electromagnets of itsmechanism to said said first and second control circuits, respectively,leading through all preceding mechanisms of said series, and releasingsaid common contacts responsive to release of said lever, said cam meansalso being controlled by said second electromagnet of each mechanism forholding its associated second common contact in engagement with the rstof said side contacts during energization thereof, and releasing saidsecond common' contact responsive to de-energization thereof, wherebysaid iirst control circuit is transferred to a succeeding mechanismimmediately on release of a bomb and said second control circuit only onrelease o! a bomb followed by deenergization of the releasing magnet.

ZINA A. M. BURRESON.

